The crystal ball is clouded in misty veils
but sometimes a soft wind
rattles, blowing the beaded curtains aside
and we glimpse the enigmatic, the mysterious

In one such revelatory dream:
I was dressed in a black crepe abhaya with
gold Kashmiri trim

My face shrouded in skeins of muslin cloth
there was a knock on the door,
shyly I peeked from behind my niqab

A group of friends gathered outside
encouraging me to go
out with them
Refusing, politely, I explained that I was
fasting for Ramadan.

As the dream faded, I later mentioned it
to a Muslim saleswoman whom we purchased
incense from.

Her eyes grew big as the crescent moon and star
Surprised and startled, excitely she revealed:

"We are celebrating Ramadan right now!"

I'm really trying
to grow old gracefully
People say things to me like,
"Getting old *****"
and
"Growing old ain't for sissies"

I look at the stately, elderly pin oak
in my backyard
strong, stout, knotty brown trunk
weathering Florida hurricanes
and lightning zaps
willowy, winding branches,
leafy emerald arms ever embracing us with
the O2 kisses we need to survive

Dashing Sir Oak tree
Playful, Surfer Palm
Lovely Magnolia
I'll grow old with you...

Gracefully

There was a kind breeze
in the sweltering inferno
of an August Summer day
in Palm Bay, Florida

Penelope the climbing orphan
rose gazed up at me gratefully
as I trimmed away the last of
the blue sky vine
Now she could ascend in
all her purple glory

The breeze followed me to the jhoola.
As i sat swinging on the soft comfortable
cushions, I was thrilled to observe that
our white French trellis was finally adorning
herself with romantic red roses

Like a little love chateau in gay Paris
climbing Don Juans serenaded her vinyl bodice
in bold, flamboyant, valentine red

Out the corner of my eye I spotted the
handsome but shy red cardinal swaying between the
branches of our hibiscus bush located close to the
lantern shaped red bird feeder

Dewy sweetness of the moment filled my heart
leaning back in the swing, I thought to myself:

"This is certainly turning out to be a bright Red-Letter Day!"

Swami my head forever rests
on your lotus feet
having touched them once
my lashes and forehead
are singed with
unspeakable splendor

A candle burns brightly
on the windowsill of my mind
ever watching for
Your glorious return

Reminiscing...
How fast the fleet-footed
mercurial, quicksilver years
flash bye
I wave to you
seated on my Ganesha bench
How many lifetimes?
this kiss I will always treasure
for you have taught me
many things dearest
but most of all
to be kind and honest
O sweet love
we fly away to other worlds
all too soon

Perfect night for a star bath
i gaze into the glittering skies
The moon casts a silver spell
Luminous from head to toe
I float towards the vast beauty
unfolding white wings
shimmering shining endlessly

I belong to the woodlands
tall pine look down with
sheltering glances
their emerald crowns
caress the heavenly blue dome
Winter sun is a bright Jewel
through the branches
air is sweet and fresh
a sleepy wind blows
across my face
And if it weren't
so late in the afternoon
I just might snooze here
on a bed of pine needles
but instead I rouse myself
and sing a song of gratitude

I blew you a dandelion kiss
softly  across wisps of blue
A fragile star for you
to dream catch and
tuck between the velvet folds
of your heart

Sai Ram
I lean on the strength
of Your name
1000 times
a million times
Swami grant me
Your golden hued darshan

Glass spheres glide
smoothly over my fingers
one shining rosary bead
at a time
circumambulating
my prayerful palms

I hear crisp swoosh of Buddhist nuns
kashaya robes
inhale resinous frankincense
from Catholic monk's
thuribles
as they circle their chosen deities

Like the earth revolving around
the Sultan Sun
trillions of incandescent solar systems
biospheres
realms and lokas unknown
swirl perfectly, sublimely round
the One astonishing Beauty
that is God

We stare starry eyed
through a colossal, powerful telescope
with eyes like moons

How fortuitous are we
to be on this heavenly trajectory
Divine Cosmonauts
spiraling mandalas
eternally orbiting
The Great I AM

The night is benign

As long as Hari is with me

A Thousand eyes fill the firmament

With iridescent gaze

Silvers splashes

across my pillow

Those days in Prashanti
devotees cue up at
Brahmamuhurtam
that time
when dew and God's sacred
presence saturate the dusty
red colored earth
soft chirp of birds just awakening
and the Islamic call to prayer clings
to mogul clouds gliding serenely
over the ashram
our anxious minds pray for the
precious chance to enter the Mandir
cloistered in that sublime sweetness
faces glisten with bliss and the
holy sound of Om orbits the earth

A splash of egrets across the blue jay sky
complements my morning tea
Impish squirrels chase their furry tails
Our neighborhood armadillo
mosaic patterns glittering on
his prehistoric armor
trudges nonchalantly across the street
Smiling I curl up on the black wrought iron
bench and
watch
The day moon drift
In an opal canoe
over a sea of clouds

Blithely, eagerly I clip clusters of spiky purple, verduous
Okinawa spinach for my lunch
adding in fuzzy bright green leaves of Thai spinach
squatting in the corner of the garden

David, AKA, Farmer Brown has certainly been busy
planting, fertilizing, cultivating a miniature farm
in our backyard

Delicate rain kisses fall lightly on my brow
and Day hides her bonnie blue face
in soft gray veils

Gathering the fresh, vibrant bounty
I feel so very blessed
surprising a garland of yellow finches
sipping water at the bird fountain
whoooosh....
lofty wings of my heart
joins them as they take off
in golden flight

Love chirps
between the branches
mirthful sounds gurgle up
From my heart
A refreshing sublime fountain
springs from unseen depths
bathing the weary spirit
And for our little
fine feathered
cherubs
to sip from

There is prana in the woodlands
sparks of divine energy
glisten between each breath
I feel His original breath
surging through me
vital, electric, Cosmic
The spark that
started everything
I smile blissfully resting
on His sunlit chest
He ties the flower of His love
wild roses and baby's breath
to my wind blown fairy tendrils

A drop of heaven is in
the ladybug
dainty red damsel
with polka dot umbrella
and black lace fan

a drop of heaven is in
that gorgeous orange creature
fluttering past me

A drop of paradise is in blue jay
his wings the color of
the Bluebonnet sky

A drop of paradise is
in Woody woodpecker
Decked out in his red silk hat
and speckled cape
sawing away...

A drop of heaven is in everything

A spark of heaven is certainly
in you and me

Mother Mary's tears
cascade

As Easter approaches all the great Saints
shed profuse tears
for the Lamb of God
Emmanuel

In a world where
the flower of love is crushed under
heavy black boots
stomping with long jagged swords
through the night
And tender kisses met with
snake hisses and sharp venomous fangs

My trembling hands will forever
anoint your raw and bleeding wounds
wash your holy feet with my tears

Light a candle on Easter morning
for the world you so sought to save

Behind my cherry blossom parasol
I wait for you
Beloved

a sunstar shimmering
across the Red bridge to Heaven

the wind sighs pitifully
and purple wisteria weeps

My elusive enigmatic love
Summer turns to Autumn golds
and still my spirit pines

a sunstar shimmering
across the Red bridge to heaven

Remember God
My breath says
Remember God
It says again

Sister
Why wander the dusty, broken cobbled roads
searching for our Beloved?

He has given His solemn promise
that He is with us always

In the blue of the heavens
spanning out endlessly
wearing a robe of stars
He embraces us

In the depths of our suffering
when pain clouds our mind
and serpents hiss incessantly
He cradles us in His arms
till the fever breaks and
our penance is done

He is our very breath
place your hands
over my heart, Sister
feel the heart throb
of our Beloved

Morning dove light peeps
through satin, white window curtains
gently caressing my face
with long amber fingers of Aten

Eyelashes flutter, tiny black feathers
spread their wings
my eyes, twin suns rise
in splendor

I watch from an ancient throne
suddenly realizing:
I AM HERE

Shimmering peacock hues
ripple across the iridescent atmosphere
succulent flavors of a new day overwhelm
my palate as I gulp down each raw, fresh
insatiable experience
bursting forth in plumes of color,
scents and sensation

Yet in the midst of it all like a
clarion bell ringing from a Buddhist temple
Clearly I observe:
I AM HERE

My lover clasps me
to his burning breast
I feel warm breath in my ears
and a warm teardrop splashes
against my ruby cheek
"O sweet boy will you love me forever?"

Spring rains flow into Summer vacations
Winter snow buries Autumn petals
Unaffected My Soul calmly declares
I AM HERE

My breath is shallow
the bubbly stream of life
has dammed up
heavy black velvet drapes
slowly close over a starry landscape
you grip my cold, steel blue hands
and stare into my faraway eyes
your words fall on a distant shore
where roaring tiger waves
pull me out to sea

And although all appears lost and forgotten
Undiminished I remember:
I AM HERE

Winter nuzzles His chilly
Ivory cheek
next to mine

Puffs of frozen air
hang like heart shaped clouds
around us

Crystal eyes gaze directly, clearly
unflinching
into my night sky orbs

His kiss is cold
but laser true

Together we skate
though colorful Christmas lights,
sequinned landscapes

Across constellations, borealis
and the Great Beyond
Loving it all with
vast polar bear hugs

Frogs croak in concert
deep guttural base drones
punctuate the morning silence
there's no one on the street
except a lone biker
pedaling towards me
we smile exchanging
a bit of radiance

with each healing breath
I remind myself
to count my blessings

Swami holds my hand
gently reassuring me
His hair ripples in
the tropical breeze
and the hem of His
paradise orange robes
rustle softly

"Sai Ram," I whisper, "I love you."

Road to infinity
opens up before us
the sweet trill of a cat bird
garlands the eternal moment.

David and I gave
each other bike hugs
we both are like
little kids when we cycle

Pedaling along our
newly asphalted roads
we drink in the
extraordinary
Florida sunsets
and admire the neatly
manicured front yards
of kind neighbors

Mike's tiny dog
"Lil Bit"
yelps protectively
as we rocket past his yard

a lot of folks have joined
the happy carefree world
of bicycling since the
corona crisis

I chose a tricycle
for my preferred ride
"Sai Purple Majesty"
jets down Beacon Street
Behind David's Red Cruiser

Laughing with glee
we ride off into the
glowing candy apple sunset

I am so thrilled!
David and I discovered
a big patch of woodland
a few blocks from our home
David and I held hands
as we entered the forest sanctum
crossing over a few curly
entwining vines
the forest opened up
to natural pine needle paths
spiraling through sheer enchantment
the magnificent aroma of
designer pine perfume
sweetened our every step
and the O2 was off the charts
O what a heaven sent
medicine for the spirit!
we paused amidst this splendor
to lift our hearts to the
incredible divine essence
imbuing everything chanting
with reverence and great gusto
Om Om Om

I danced for my Lord after the hurricane squalls
A thousand arms, feet, eyes
moving in all directions
tell the classic, ancient story of a timeless, eternal love:

"If my heart were a bird it would nest in Your
heart and sing from dawn to dusk -
Sai Govinda..Sai Govinda...Sai Govinda"

"Noonday sun in the marketplace is hot and humid
carrying a basket of flowers on my head
I forget myself chanting -
Sai Govinda...Sai Govinda...Sai Govinda"

"My eyes are brighter than the full moon
embracing star bejeweled skies
All I see is You -
Sai Govinda...Sai Govinda...Sai Govinda"

I dance in His luminous footsteps
a girl drunk on His love
This world shakes
it's gem studded mane
offers me all it's gold
My eyes are forever fixed on His feet
I dance in His luminous footsteps
a girl drunk on His love

Lord if there is
Prema in my heart
You've promised to abide
with me
on snowy twilight peaks
far from the pull of gravity
O Gangadhar
Light is pouring down from
places beyond
my comprehension
galaxies, constellations
worlds within worlds
fall at your Cosmic feet
All knowing One
This wait is unbearable

Plumeria in my hair

I followed footsteps of the Sun

to the Sea

I hear Krishna's conch

Om

Om

Om

He is calling me

I stepped outside my door this morning
a flock of snowy egrets soaring above
greeted my eyes, also in the distance
two stygian vultures added to the yin/yang
of the moment


Facing eastward, Surya, the Sun God
stretched out His long burnished arms
yawning away starry remnants of night

My neck has been giving me trouble lately
I asked Surya to give me a solar massage
standing barefoot in the jeweled dew and
damp grass

Surya's life giving warm rays penetrated
the gloomy, dreary alleyways
of my mind and body

Smiling up at our beautiful,
radiant Sun God
I blew fairy kisses toward the sky

bright faced cape may daisies
and disneyland roses
scattered petals
at His most auspicious, splendid
lustrous lotus Feet

Love bugs crazy in love
are everywhere
dozens of tiny ebony stars
cover the nebula white rose bush
glowing at the corner of our house

Millions of miniature helicopters, blimps
polka dot the heavens
hanging out on street corners, in yards, lawn chairs
honeymooning on warm, fragrant vernal breezes

One woman in Walmart parking lot
squealed, exasperated,
"Oh no! they are in my hair and car!"
vigorously fanning them away with
her Zanzibar scarf

Love bugs literally living, loving, dying
in their mad, mating frenzy
dance obliviously around
Spring's merry maypole

Love bugs drift past
David and I standing in the doorway
two lil' love bugs
kissing
"nose to nose
toes to toes"
as only true
Love Bugs do

Last night at sunset
millions of pink cherub kisses
dotted the tie-dyed skies

David and I rushed out
towards the blushing glow
And the sweetest embrace

My heart has flown away
I run to the end of my wits
a jagged precipice
in search of the throbbing
red breasted one

Tracking through
mental wastelands
sense ridden dumping grounds
endless cycle of birth and death
I wonder where it might be hiding

O heart why have you forsaken me?
I wait desolate and utterly alone

Sweet heart I think I know who you
have run off with....

Who can resist the tender love song
of Murali's flute?
Wine warm embrace of His sapphire arms?
enchanting gaze of His bejeweled eyes?

I press my ear to heaven's *****
listen to the pitter patter of Gopi hearts
eternally eloping

Beloved Krishna
Celestial Bridegroom
my heart belongs only to
You

A thunderbolt fell
onto my lap while lounging in
the garden

I scan the skies for a glimpse
of Your saffron robes

The heavens are purple and red
with sunset's blaze

I glimpse Your blue lotus Feet
fire-walking towards
me

Take a gentle walk today
my little love
there are fall flowers
and purple clover in the fields

Feather clouds, turquoise skies
are medicine bags for the spirit

Listen to the wind chimes
little papoose
and deep breaths from the
evergreen forests

They chant His name
continuously...

A bouquet from my lips to yours
Dearest David
I am so grateful for your love, understanding
and presence

Life can worldwind by like a hungry vacuum
******* up precious moments we can never restore...

...a dance in the moonlight
with your flushed cheek next to mine....

...Sunrise awe on Beacon Street...

...3 sweet breaths...

Butterfly heart dancing around mine
I Love you my darling
you are a timeless gift from God

You have taken me
on this journey...

I creep up through
smothering darkness,
mud
million lifetimes ago
edge of an abyss
a tiny glimmer
moon beams
shimmering dew
green breath

Your Kind Face

This radiant universe
embracing, embracing

...And the Lotus opens
1,000 fold

Just the way
the leaves fell
at that moment...

Divine cascade from heaven
golden chimes sprinkle
across the summer wind

A gentle gust lifts my
straw hat with the
origami pink, yellow and orange blossoms

Barely clutching the tassel brim
I look towards Your Invisible Presence
shimmering beneath that lucky tree

O Bhagavan!
"Not a leaf a falls without it being the Will of God"

The huge inflated
Christmas teddy bear
on my neighbor's lawn
holding a red and white
candy cane
opens and closes
his vinyl arms
"Teddy I need a hug,"  I whisper
also opening my arms wide
"In fact I think the whole world does"

Thick clouds of sweet incense
rise from brass temple bowls
the tiles are cool under my bare feet
rubies fall from the sky, pink rays
across Your altar
O Hari
the moments are drenched in Your
Love
there is no space between us now
Your breath has married mine

the Sun holds
me close

I can feel His
golden breath

illumining

healing

the darkness

So Vast
You are...Divine One
Yet
Inexplicably, intimately
close
Your breath
has married mine
Flash of Your
gold earrings
Chime of Your
anklebells
Divine lips as rose red as
This throbbing heart

While gallery sitting
amidst colorful paintings,
jeweled and sculpted objects
I chatted with fellow artist,
Jeff Filipski

Always on the edge, raw, bleeding
and alive!
Jeff does not mince words, tells it honestly
like it is...
beneath the dark blue rumblings
brilliant electric flashes of intuition
a loving Soul flowers on the
world pond

During a rare glimpse of the Truth
not given to many
Jeff's words struck my Soul

As he lay in the verdant arms of Nature,
gentle currents caressing his spirit,
swooning under the vast blue kiss
of the sky

His heart cracked open
gazing upward
with a raspy voice, tears streaming,
and a choir of infinite echoes
he declared:

I KNOW YOU!

An arrow of flowers
has entered my heart
I sip the heady maroon wine
of His love
and dance through the streets
chanting His glorious name
O Beloved
I am drunk on the beauty of
Your Presence
catch me as
I swoon into Your
Eternal Embrace

Nectar on my lips
a sweet kiss for you


Thich Nhat Hanh says
3 breath hugs
are bliss for
body, mind and spirit

She plucked a white rose
from the front gardens

my gorgeous niece
sunrise of youth
glowing on her cheeks

with a bewildered look
she revealed how
pointless she felt
much of her studies
and school subjects were

I started to lecture
on the importance of school

Barely listening she let go
of her exasperation
and wandered
by the canal with
the white rose
and a soft breeze
blowing through her
freshly dyed hair

I watched her dance away
barefoot back to her room
of pointless studies
and school subjects

Holy men say
we are all sparks
of the Divine
I feel that now
when I pass you
on the street
there is an
inexplicable radiance
in your eyes
and a bit of the sun
shines through
when you flash
a smile
Even before my
dark raven mind
tries to form a
story about you
I let that heavenly
light gush in
open the skylight
of my heart
where we meet
sparkling explosions
where kinship, peace
and true love
only exist

How creative is the day
every morning Dawn
her face flushed in
shades of poinsettia pink
spreads golden wings
over the Earth
gently fanning flames of life

I plant my poem bush in
Her bright noonday rays
water flows from my
jeweled heart chalice
emotions, ideas, inspiration
flood lush fertile soil
soaking into a network of roots
reaching into beloved humanity,
this bustling world,
starry space and beyond

So much love
it pours like rain and sunshine
simultaneously
the dew of eternal life
has fallen on the
open petals of my heart